Apparatus for the manufacture of synthetic yarn



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APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SYNTHETIC YARN Nov. 5, 1946. H.k o. NAUMANN ZAMAS APPARATUS FOR TI-IE-MANUFACTURE OF SYNTHETIC YARN original Filed lJuly 14, 1942 lo-sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 5 l946 H. o. NAUMANN 2,410,456

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFAGTURE 0F SYNTHETIC YARN Original Filed July 14, 1942 l0 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,Iereri/Vazmm A Snow@ Nov. 5, 19.46. I .l H. o. NAMANN 2,410,456

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SYNTHETIC YARN Original Filed July 14, 1942 l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aww/Molo Nov. 5, 1946. 2,410,456

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE oF SYNTHETIC YARN H. O. NAUMANN 1o sheets-Sheet 5' Original Filed Jly 14, 1942 @www Nov. 5, E946.

H. O. NAUMANN APARATUS FOR THE MANUFAGTURE QF SYNTHETIC YARNl original Filed July 14, 1942 1o sheets-sheet e Tlrf ` H. O. NAUMANN APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF SYNTHETIC YARN Nov. 5, 1946.

Original Filed July 14, 1942 l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 Nov. 5, 1946. H. o. `HAMMAM: 2,410,456

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE oF SYNTHETIC YARN original Filed July 14, 1942 l0 Sheets-Sheet 8 NOV. 5, '1946. H Q NAUMNN 2,410,456

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SYNTHETIC YARN Original Filed July 14, 1942 lOlSheets-SheetAS l @gi Gum/wang NOVo 5, 1946. o, NAUMANN l 52,410,456

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE SYNTHETIC YARN Original Filedl July 14, 1942 l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Iuulllflm" Patented Nov. 5, 1946 APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SYNTHETIC YARN Herbert 0. Naumann, Englewood, N. J., assignor to North American Rayon Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware original application July V14, 1942, serial No. 450,934. Divided and this application June 3, 1943, serial No. 489,554

`thread while it is moving from the spin bath to a point of collection and the collection of the completely finished thread into a commercially salable package. The very nature of continuous operation renders the handling of the thread, for instance from one treating unit to another or during the exchange of an empty bobbin for a full one, extremely diicult. Deft and accurate handling of the thread during these periods is of extreme importance and demands the exercise of unusual precautions to avoid loss of time and waste of materials.

One of the objects of this invention is to reduce to a minimum the time required for the transfer of the thread from one element of the machine to another and hence avoid any more loss of production than is absolutely necessary for the transfer.

Another object is to properly support the thread at all times, i. e., during the threadingup of the machine or during the exchange of a full bobbin for an empty one and hence facilitate the handling of the thread during such periods so as to avoid undue Waste.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features forming a thread, leading the formed thread through various stages of treatment, temporarily collecting the thread into a waste bundle between its point of origin and its point of collection, meanwhile performing an intra-related thread-handling operation such as transferring the thread from one unit to another or exchanging a full thread package for an empty one, separating the waste bundle from the oncoming thread and directing the oncoming,

and hold it in proper relation to the elements of a. station.

3 Claims. (Cl. 18-8) Other advantages of this invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description thereof in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an end view, partially in section, of a preferred type of continuous spinning machine constructed according 'to this invention;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation illustrating a portion of the right or spinning side of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation illustrating a portion of the left or finishing side of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective View of a typical driving arrangement for the spinning machine shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the entire mechanism for transporting thread from one to the other side of the spinning machine of Figure 1 during threading up thereof, the underlying thread-storage, thread-advancing units being omitted for convenience in illustration;

Figure 6 is a top plan view partially in section,

taken along the line 6 6 of Figure 1 and servingy to further illustrate the mechanism shown in Figure 5;

Figure 'l is a fragmentary plan View of the operating deck with which the left side of the spinning machine of Figure 1 is provided;

Figure 8 is a perspective View of the ring twister threading apparatus used in conjunction with the present invention;

Figure 9 is a View in longitudinal section oi a temporary thread collecting device used in conjunction with the threading up of the ring twister shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a View in section taken along the line lil-lil of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a View in section taken along the line ll-Il of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is an end View, partially in section, of a spinning machine constructed according to this invention but somewhat modified for convenient attachment to preexisting spinning equipment;

Figure 13 is a View in side elevation illustrating a portion of the right or spinning side of the machine of Figure 12, one godet driving connection being shown in section;

Figure 14 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in longitudinal section of the lower roller of a thread-storage, thread-advancing unit illustrating a movable trough for the collectio vof used treading liquids;

Figure l5 is a View in elevation of the unsupported end of the roller of Figure 14; and

Figure 16 is a plan view taken along the line Iii-I6 of Figure 14.

Referringnowin detail to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, it will be seen that the spinning machine illustrated includes a number or" spinning units, each consisting basically or" a spinneret Ii] and a pair of thread-storage, thread-advancing devicesl On devices II and l2, the freshly II and I2. formed thread is subjected to all required .aftertreatments, whereupon it is concurrently twisted and collected on twisting spindle I3 in iinished form. For convenience in illustration, all ,of lthe component units of a continuous spinning machine constructed accordingto the -present invention have not been illustrated. It is contemplated, however, that a single machine include some 50 to 70 spinning units arranged in alignment as illustrated. While it will be increasingly evident upon consideration .oi the following description that this invention is adaptable to any ,type of wet .spinning operation involving the preparation of a thread in the lform of a hydrated colloid, ,the apparatus will .be specifically dis- `cussed in .conjunction with ,the manufacture 4of .viscose rayon.

At spaced points along Vthe iength of the -rear wall of spin `bath container I4, godets 3l areprovided, each of these consisting v,of a driven wheel `3,2 .and a freely rotatable one 33. The vthread Yissuing from .eachspinneret .I is first led around the respective godet 3i and .then to the threadstorage, thread-advancing unit II.

As can be seen in the drawings, each unit VII is comprised of two generally horizontally extending .rollers .5 and A6. d

v Although rollers 45 and .45 both extend generally horizontally, it is the usual practice to .dispose ,theraxis of roller 46 ina truly horizontal .direction while that of roller 45 is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal so that thread wound around `the two rollers will necessa-rily progress in the direction of convergence,

i. e., toward the unsupported end 4of ythe unit.

As illustrated in Figure 2, rollers 45 .and 46 which constitute unit .LI are arranged `in such e Way that ,their .axes-.lie the Same vertical plane :but are convergent in the direction of the unsupported end of the unit. This is convenient v from the standpoint of space economy, but is vnot essential. It is evident that the axial feeding .theory will likewise obtain in any .arrangement involvingat least -two rollers, the axes .of which lie in intersecting planes.

The thread leaving the godet .'3.I is first led .on to the upper cylinder 45 of unit I I over a guide roller SS, located adjacent the supported end or" `cylinder 15, said guide roller being supported on a 'bracket extending from collection trough 69 which underlies roller 45. YIt is led off of the opposite side of upper roller 45 of unit I I, under a guide vroller "Iii adjacent 'the free end of the unit, over a guide roller v'II and from thence over a guide roller I8 to a thread-storagefthreadadvancing unit I2 which is mounted on the opposite side of themachine. Guide roller 'i5 is supported on `a lbracket extending upwardly from collection trough I2 underlying roller 46, while guide roller 'II is supported on a bracket attached -to a portionof` the machine frame. The path of Vthe thread to and from unit II is shown in Figure l, the spaced coils wound around the two rollers being omitted for convenience in illustra- `tion, see Patent No. 2,194,4761130 Hartmann et al.

It will be understood of course that treating liquids are supplied to the yarn on the rollers 45 and 46 by supply pipes 232 and 234 respectively.

In the operation of the machine, it is evident that the rollers i5 and must be driven at the same peripheralspeed. This is best done by driving shafts 56 and 55 (Fig. 4) in synchronism from a common power source or by driving one shaft from the other. Shafts 5B and 5S are provided with pinions i3 and i4, respectively, of like size, both pinions meshing with a driving gear 'I5 driven from a gear i6 on main power shaft 25. While it is important that the peripheral speeds of rollers 45 and 46 be identical, it is evident that their takeup speed may be in excess of the delivery speed of the-adjacent godet 3l so that stretching may occur between each unit I I and its associated godet 3i. Arrows in Figures l, 2 and 4 serve to illustrate the direction of rotation of the rollers of unit II.

It will be recognized that the axial movement of the coils of thread from the supported toward the unsupported end of thread-storage, threadadvancing device i I will occur only after that device has been threaded up. To do this it is, of course, rst necessary to initiate rotation of vshafts 56 and '59, which, through the intermediate gearing, cause rotation of shafts 41 and 55 .and the rollers 4.6 and 45, carried thereby. This is done by starting motor I'I, which action likewise causes operation ofthe pumps I5as well as godets 3 i. At this stage, the spinning solution is extruded from each spinneret I0. The operator then grips the material issuing from the spinneret, pulls it up from the bath and winds the resulting thread several times around godet wheels 32 and 33, making enough convolutions .to prevent slipping. The thread is .then ledfrom the godet, and wound around rollers 45 and 46 in the form of a closed coil consisting of a number of contiguous or superimposed convolutions. This coil may be Wound near the supported end Vof the unit I i in which case it will move as a body tothe unsupported end of the unit and the successively spun thread will be wound on in a position determined vby the angular.disposition of the roller 45.

As the coil begins to move toward the unsupported end of unit I I, the operator drops the connecting -thread into freely rotatable guide roller 6,8 so

that Aeach newly formed coil will be located directly adjacent the supported end of the device,

the thread is bro-ken between the unsupported end of the unit II, the thread is broken between vthe coil and the spaced convolutions on the roller and the coil is removed and discarded. The resulting free end or thread is then led under roller 1,5 and over roller '1I and ontoa rotating temporary collecting device 71. This device is moved bodily from the position shown in Figure 1 to a position overlying a guide roller 'I8 bearing a position with respect to thread-storage, threadadvancing unit I2 similar to the position of guide it with respect to unit II. Unit I2 may then be threaded up in the manner just described.

Upon consideration of Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that some difficulty may be encountered veniencein some installations, is inno sense essential. In Figure 1 it can be seen that the fre'e end of roller L36 extends beyond the end of trough 12. When this arrangement is used, any of the thread-storage, thread-advancing units may be threaded up by winding the closed coil adjacent the unsupported end thereof and manually leading the connecting thread over freely rotatable guide roller 63. If this is done, a stop'guide 'I9 must be used to prevent the coil from running off the end of the unit while it is threading itself. In Figure 2 it can be seen that guide 'I9 is in the form of a porcelain loop pivotally attached to a bracket arlixed to trough 69. In the full line position of Figure 2, guide 'I9 functions to prevent Athe thread loop from moving axially off the end of the unit. When not in use, guide'l may be manually swung to the broken line position of Figure 2 where it will not longer contact the thread connecting tangentially rollers 55 and 46. I When the closed coil is wound adjacent the free end of unit II, around cylinders 4'5 and 46, the threading action of the unit is brought about by the winding of additional coils of newly spun thread thereon and by the pulling of a few of the convolutions off of the closed coil in the direction of the supported end of the unit, the latter occurring when the takeup speed of the threadstorage, thread-advancing device is in excess of the speed of delivery of the thread thereto. As threading up commences, the spacing between coils will be relatively great, but will gradually lessen until the spacing predetermined by the angular adjustment of roller 45 has been reached. At this time, the closed coil can be broken off and discarded and the thread led to a new stage as, for example, temporary collecting device II in the case of a unit I I While the foregoing description of threading up has been confined to the threading up of unit ll, it is evident that exactly the same procedure may be followed in the case of unit I2. Thus, the trough underlying the lower roller of each unit I2 may be moved away from the roller to permit threading up by winding a closed coil adjacent the supported end of the unit or a guide such as guide 79 may be used to perrriit winding the closed coil adjacent the unsupported end of the'unit. Neither of these is illustrated in Figure l. It is contemplated, however, that a guide such as guide I9 be associated with the trough of the upper roller of unit I2 in the same manner that guide `I9 is associated with trough 6E),

After the thread-storage, thread-advancing' unit Il has been threaded up, it has been stated that the thread is carried from a point adjacent the free end of that unit to a point adjacent the supported end of thread-storage, thread-advancing unit I2 so that the latter may be threaded up in the manner previously described. This movement is eifected by leading the free end of thread from thread-storage, thread-advancing unit lII to a small rotating cylinder 'I'I constituting a temporary collecting device. Collecting device TI is supported by and driven through suitablegearing from a motor Si). Thus, the free end of thread is wound around rotating temporary collecting device TI, and motor 89, with the 'temporary collecting device, is bodily moved from right to left as viewed in Figure 1 so that temporary collecting device 'I'I is positioned adjacent the` supported end of-thread-storage, thread-advancing unit I2. The peripheral speed of 4the small cylinder 'II constituting the temporary` co1- lecting device is so correlated with the speedof bodily movement of the temporary collecting device Vacross the machine from right to left in Figure l that the` cumulative take-up effective at thev free end of unit II is very slight in excess ofl the delivery speed of that unit. In this way, the occurrence of slack is avoided while the thread is not subjected to excessive tension.

, So that a plurality of adjacent pairs of threadstorage, thread-advancing units may be threaded up with maximum convenience, another small cylindrical temporary collecting device 8l is disposed in horizontally offset position with respect to device Il' a distance equal to the space between the axes of ,adjacent units. Device 8| is supported and driven from a motor' 32 of structure and functional characteristics similar to motor 8d. Upon reference to Figures 1 and 5, it can be seen that collecting devices I'I and SI are normally disposed on opposite sides of the machine. Thus, when collecting device 'I'I is overlying a thread-storage, thread-advancing device I I, temporary collecting device BI is in a similar position over an adjacent thread-storage, threadadvancing device I2.

Upon reference now to Figures 2 and 3, the manner of threading up a, machine by the use of collecting devices I'I and 8l may be ascertained. In Figure 2, temporary collecting device TI is disposed above a thread-storage, threadadvancing unit II designated by the reference lletter A. At the same time, temporary collecting device 8l is over a thread-storage, thread-advancing device l2 in aligned position behind the unit I I marked B on Figure 2. When unit A has been threaded up, the operator leads the free end of thread around temporary collecting device TI, which is driven by motor 8G continuously throughout the threading up period. Thereafter, motorll is bodily moved to the opposite side-of the machine, carrying with it the thread issuing from unit A which is being concurrently wound on device Tl. At the same time, temporary collecting device 8l is moved toward the operator on the spin bath side of the machine to a position over unit B similar to the position previously occupied by temporary collecting. device 'Il over unit A. Thus, one operator vonv the spin bath side of the machine may be threading up a unit B while another operator on the finishing side may be threading a unit I2 in alignment with the unit II marked A. In this way, both of the operatorsare continuously occupied. It will, of course, be understood that when the temporary collecting device completes its bodily movement across the machine,v it will have wound thereon a very small. amount of thread. This is treated as waste and the thread is broken by the operator directly adjacent the collecting device and led around the thread-storage, thread-advancing unit in question in a manner previously described. After the unit B of Figure2 has been threaded, the position of temporary collecting devices I'I and 8| is again reversed. The operator then breaks the thread adjacent temporary'collecting device 8l and begins threading the unit I2 which is in alignment with unit B of Figure 2. Threadstorage, thread-advancing unit TI', in its return movement from the nishing side to the spinning side of the machine, carries no thread over tov a point above unit A since this unit has already been threaded. Accordingly, immediately after breakage of the thread adjacent temporary collectingdevice SI, asthe operator starts to thread the unit I2 behind B of Figure`2, the entire assembly supporting temporary collecting devices 'II and 8l is moved to the right of Figure 2 a distance equal to twice the distance between the centers of adjacent units. This brings collecting device Ir'I over. unit I| marked C and device 8| over a unit I2 behind and in alignment` with unit D. When this. stage has been reached, the previously described operation is repeated and so on until the entire machine is threaded up.

It; has been stated that motors 89 andi 82 and the temporary collecting devices supported and driven thereby are bodily moved across the width of the machine. This movement is effected by thev concurrent rotation of oppositely threaded screws 83 and 84v (Figs. 5 and 6) supported in rectangular frame 85. and in respective driving engagement. with interiorly threaded members 86 and 8l which surround the threaded shafts 93 and 94 and have depending Shanks 88 and 89 which serve to support motors 8.9 and 82, respectively'` To prevent pivotal movement of motors 89 and 82 and the assemblies carried thereby about threaded shafts 83 and 84 as axes, brought about by the rotation of those shafts, members 86 and 81 are provided with arms 99 and 9| eX- tending in mutually convergent relation at right angles to respective shanks 88 and 89. The free ends of arms 99 and 9| are slotted and receive therein a guide rail 92 which extends for the full width of the machine and is suitably supported in frame 85.

Since shafts 83 and 84 are oppositely threaded, it will be apparent that, if both are driven, members 86 and iSI will moveacross frame 85 in op.- posite directions carrying with them the respective' motors 89 and 82 and temporary collecting devices 'I'I- and 8 I.

The intermittent rotation of shafts 83 and 84 is eiected through a reversible motor 93, the. rotor shaft of which is provided with a pinion 94. Pinion 94 is operatively connected to threaded shaft 83 through an idler gear 95 which meshes with a gear 96 keyed to threaded shaft 83. A4 similar gearing arrangement including an idler 9T and a gear 98 keyed to shaft 84 serves to establish a driving connection between the latter and pinion 94. Conveniently, the gearing connecting the rotor of lmotor 93 and shafts 83 and 84' isk enclosed in a dust-proof housing 99. It can now be seen that for any given direction of rotation of motor 93, members 86 and 8'! will be driven in. opposite directions. that the direction of bodily movement of collecting devices 'I'I and 8l be reversed each succeeding. operation thereof. It is for this reason that motor S3 is of a reversible type. The exact-construction of'motor 93 forms no part of this invention, it being contemplated that any conventional reversible electric motor of suitable characteristics may be used. The motor is controlled through. a circuit, not shown, from a pair of push buttons |99 and |9| (Figfl) each of which serves to drive the motor in one direction only. The stoppage of motor 93 is effected automatically by a pair of limit switches of any conventional construction disposed on opposite sides of bar 92 adjacent one of its ends, one switch being in the path of each of arms 99 and 9i'. Thus, forexample, the rotation of motor 58' in one direction may be stopped when arm 99 reaches a predetermined position and the rotation in the other direction may be stopped when arm 9| reaches a similar predetermined position at the' same. end of frame 85. Since motor 93 will necessarily develop a certain amount of inertia in` operation, it is highly desirable that the stoppage thereof .be effected instantaneously to prevent possible It is necessary, however,

damage of the equipment caused by either of members 89 or 8'I exceeding the full amplitude of' movement on screws 83 and 84. This is conveniently done by providing a magnetic brake |92, (Figs. 2 and 5) the control circuit for which is in circuit` with the limit switches. This brake |92. is conveniently located on the end of the rotor shaft of motor 93 opposite pinion 9.4.

The bodily movement of temporary collecting devices 11: and 8| across the machine has now been described. It has been previously stated, however, that frame is subject to bodily movement lengthwise of the machine. To this end frame 85 is supported from a car |93' having two pairs of hanged wheels |94 and |95 which ride in rails |96 and |91 supported above the machine in any convenient manner, see Figure l. Wheels may turn freely on axle |99 or may be attached thereto, the, only requisite being that the wheel and axle assembly is freely rotatable. Wheels |99,` however, are attached for free rotation at the ends of axle |99 and this axle, midway of its length, carries a keyed pinion I I9 which is adapted to mesh with a rack III which extends for the full length of the machine at a position midway between rails I 99 and |91. The manner of driving car |93 through rack and pinion |9| can now be described. To this end,

axle |99 is provided with a keyed sprocket II2 connectedL by a chain II3 with a sprocket ||4 on the rotor shaft of a motor H5. Thus, upon rotation of motor |I5, sprocket H2 keyed to axle H39 will cause rotation of pinion I9, which meshing with rack I I, will pull the car |93 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of pinion H9. By energizing motor IIE, the car |98 is moved lengthwise of the spinning machine. It is desirable, however, that the lengthwise movement be controlled so that temporary collecting devices 'I'I and 8| will be moved a distance exactly equal to twice the distance between the centers of adjacent units. This controlled movement is effected by so arranging the diameter of pinion ||9 that 360 of movement thereof will Imove the car exactly the desired distance. After completion of this. movement, motor |I5 is automatically cle-energized and the inertia thereof automatically overcome. This is eifected through atiming disc. I I9. keyed to axle |99 adjacent pinion ||9. This disc, as may be seen in Figure 2, is provided with a notch and serves to position a switch arm II'I. Disc IIS is so disposed on axle |99 that the notch therein will be in registry with switch arm |I upon completion of the desiredV movement lengthwise of the machine. Thus, arm I l1 is normally held in a position to maintain the circuit vto motor I I5 closed. It serves to open the circuit to motor II5, however, when in registry with the notch of disc H8, and, at the same time, through relays to operate a magnetic brake I|8 of' a type similar to magnetic brake |92 previously described. Thus, motor II.5 is automatically stopped. Initiationof rotation thereof is effected through switch arms I I9 and |29 connected at the ends of a long. shaft |2| which extends vfor the full width of the machine. Switch arms |.I.9 and |29 are disposed ina position to `be conveniently operated from either side of the machine byvpull cords. A linkage |22, k|28, |24 connects shaft I2I with switch box |25 in which the various controls for both motors I-I-iand S3 are located, as well as the relays for the operation of the magnetic brakes. It can be seen that if the operator pulls switch arm H9 and then immediately releases it, motor4 H5 willv operate 9` until the notch 1n disc ||6 permits switch .arm I1 to open the circuit. At this point it will automatically stop. On the other hand, if the operator should hold switch arm I I9 during the time that the notch in disc I6 and switch arm I I1 are in registry, motor would continue to run. Thus, while the lengthwise travel of car |03, when initiated, is normally dened by the mechanismy described, the starting and stopping thereof is also fully under the control of the operator. Switch arm |20 is used to drive motor ||5 in the other direction and is normally employed for returning the entire threading up assembly to one end of the machine after threading up has been effected.

Having now described the manner in which the machine is threaded up including the apparatus for transferring the free ends from the units Il to their respective units |2, the details of the latter units will be discussed.

Each unit I 2 consist-s of two rollers |26 and |21, supported at one end only, and having their free ends extending generally horizontally. As in the case with lower roller 46 of unit I, lower roller |21 is mounted on a, shaft which extends axially of the roller and is in a truly horizontal position. This shaft, designated by numeral |23, is provided with a driving gear` |29 keyed thereto which meshes with a lgear |30, keyed to a main drive shaft |3I. Drive shaft |3| is similar to drive shaft 5U and is provided with a plurality of gears |30, one for coaction with each gear |29 for each of lower rollers |21. Each meshing pair of gears |23, |3|| is disposed in a housing |32 xedly mounted on a portion of the main frame of the machine. Housing |32 s provided with a bearing |33 for supporting shaft |28.

Upper roller |26 of the thread-storage, threadadvancing unit 2 is likewise provided with an axially extending drive shaft, said shaft bearing the ldesignation |34. Shaft |34 is provided with a gear |35 which meshes with a gear |36 mounted on main drive shaft |31. Shaft |31 is similar in structure and function to shaft 59 and it is provided along its length with a number of gears |36 corresponding to the number of rollers |26. The pairs of gears |35 and |36 are mounted in housing |38, each of which extends for a considerable distance into the interior of a roller |26. Housings |38 are elongated in this manner so that the bearings for shaft |34 are spaced apart a suiicient distance to insure rigidity of that shaft and to prevent wobbling movement of roller |26 in response to radial thrust. Only one bearing for shaft |34 can be seen in Figure 1, this being designated by the numeral |39. Note that the elongated housing structure is likewise carried out in lower roller |26. The remaining portions of housings |32 and'|38 will be hereinafter more fully described in conjunction with the detailed construction of rollers |26 and |21.

It is contemplated that housing |38 be mounted for pivotal movement on tubular support 806, the construction of which is conveniently identical to the construction of tubular support 63 associated with housings 58. It is understood that the angular disposition of shaft |34 may be varied by the employment of a construction such as that used in changing the angular position of shaft 55.

LThe apparatus employed is identical to that used in conjunction with roller 45. In the structure associated with roller 45 (Fig. 1) a shaft 64 is provided with threads over which rides a nut which is pivotally supported between the depending arms of a bifurcated member 66 in turn attached to the bottom of and extending downwardly from housing 58. The free end of shaft 64 is located adjacent a removable dust cap 61 and is adapted for engagement by a socket wrench operated from the front of the machine. When shaft 64 is rotated, bifurcated member 66 is moved through agency of the nut, either closer to or further away from pivoted end bearing of shaft 64, depending on the direction of rota.- tion. Movement of bifurcated member 61 toward end bearing 65 lowers the unsupported end of roller 45 while movement in the other direction has the vreverse effect. Housing 58 is of course pivoted about tubular support 63 to permit chang# ing the angular position of shaft 55 and the roller 45 concentrically mounted thereon. Since screw means are used for altering the position of shaft 55, the arrangement is self-locking. Note threaded shaft |44 which corresponds to similar shaft 64 and dust cap |4| through removal of which access to shaft |413 may be gained in order to adjust the angular disposition of roller |26. Housing |32, which corresponds to housing 5| on the other side of the machine, is mounted on a portion of the mainframe in such a way that shaft |28 extends in a truly horizontal position. It will be recalled that the angular position of shaft 41 is not adjustable. This is also trueoi shaft |28.

It is, of course, necessary that each upper roller |26 and its corresponding lower roller |21 `be driven at the same peripheral speed. It is like,- wise desirable that the take-up speed of unit I2 be approximately the same as the delivery speed 0f unit I. Upon reference to Figure 4, the manner of accomplishing this may be ascertained. In that figure, it can be noted that main drive shafts |32 and |31 are provided with gears |42 and |43 respectively. These gears are driven by gear |44 on a shaft |45, the opposite end of which carries a gear |45 in mesh with a, gear |41 which rests against and meshes with driving gear 15. The latter, it will be recalled, serves also to ac-V tuate shafts 54 and 59 to drive the component rollers of unit I I. By substitution of gears of var# ious diameters in the gear train |44, |46, |41, it is possible to bring about any desired speed on the part of rollers |26 and |21 with respect to rollers 45 and 46. Since, however, all rollers |26 and |21 are driven from the same gear, |44, it is apparent that they will have identical peripheral speeds. Like the rollers 45 and 4S, the rollers |26 and |21 are provided with liquid supply pipes 263 and 21 I, and with liquid collecting troughs 214 and 211 respectively.

As has been previously stated, thread-storage, thread-advancing unit I2 is threaded up inthe same manner as the respective unit |I. vOn thread-storage, thread-advancing unit I2, the thread is subjected to further aftertreatments, and, when it leaves that unit, is in iinished form. It is then led directly to a ring -twister mechanisrn, best shown in Figures l, 3 and 8 to 11, inclusive. The twister mechanism shown is largely conventional, being somewhat modied, however to fit under unit I2 in the interest of space conservation. Twister spindles I3 are driven in pairs from belts |48 which pass over and are propelled by a cylindrical pulley |49 keyed to a power shaft |5|l driven in any convenient manner, not shown. The usual idler pulleys |5| are associated with belt |48 and a counter-weighted belt tightener pulley |52 is employed. Each twister spindle I3 is provided with the usual brake |53 for local# ized stoppage of the spindle for the exchange of spools. The brake,.itself, is conventional in form but is provided with vnovel engagingmeans consisting of a depending arm |54 cooperating with an upwardly extending arm |55 provided with a bifurcated end. Arm '|55 is driven through a rod |56 provided with a curved operating surface 4|51 adapted to be engaged by the -leg of the operator as he stands beside the machine. A spring |58 normally biases rod |56 and hence arm |55 to release position. Thus, depending arm |54 is normally biased ina clockwise direction' as viewed in TFigure 1 thereby urging brake |53 away from the bottom of the -spindle,arms |54 and brake arm |53 functioning mechanically as a bell crank. Upon reference to Figure 7, it will be noted I.that operating surface |51 is disposed in registry with notched-out portions |59 ci a grill work |60 lserving as a platform on which the operator may stand while threading unit i2. Grill work |68 is supported by braces |6| extending from the Amain frame of the machine. Ascan be seen in Figure 1,braces |6| constitute guide bearings for rod |56. The operator, on the other hand, stands .on .the .ground floor of the operating room when twister. spindle |3 is threaded up, and, as -a consequence, .the twister brake operating surface is located for manipulation from that level.

It is contemplated that the thread issuing Vfrom unit |2 will be .delivered at a rate approximating 60 to `100 meters a minute. Ring twisters, on theother hand, are normally used with thread being pulled from a stationary package. As a consequence, it is impossible for an operator to thread up the traveler of a ring twister with a thread moving at a speed such .as is here contemplated, theslack produced being so great as to cause substantial diiculty. For this reason, a novel device and method for threading .up the ring twister has beenprovided. This device consists 'of a temporary collecting .drum |62, driven through a verysen'sitive clutch, hereinafter more fully described, by an electric motor |63. The housings Yof electric motor |63 and drum |62 are fastened together to form a unitary structure and that structure is provided with arms |64, |65 and |66 (Figs. 3 and 8) on the respective ends of which Wheels are provided. These wheels are arranged to ride in tracks |61 and |88 afxed to the moving traverse ring board, which, during twisting, is reciprocated -in a vertical direction in a conventional manner. Tracks |61 and |68, in addition to supporting motor-drum assembly IGZ-|63 for movement therealong, act as conductors for the supply of electric current to motor |63. It is contemplated that motor |63 be a low voltage unit and that one of the poles be served through the machine while the other pole is visolated from the machine by the use of insulating material in the mounting of one of the rails |61, |68.

Referring now to Figure 8, it will be seen that a thread guide |69 supported by a rod '|18 is located vertically above and in alignment with 'twister spindle I3. When the twister traveler |1| is to be threaded, the operator leads the free end of thread issuing from roller |26 of thread-storage, thread-advancing unit |12 and wraps it around a cylindrical spool ttted over drum |82 which has been caused to rotate by energizing motor |63. The driving arrangement between motor |63 and drum .|62 is such'that the takeup speed of drum |62 will be in excess of the delivery -speed from thread-storage, thread-advancing unit l2, a drum takeup speed of lapproximately Afive meters a minute in excess of. the

1'2 delivery speed ,from unit l2 :being contemplated. Thus, thethread will be under `veryslight 'tension .at this stage and will follow the path designated by the reference letter A vin Figure 8. The operator then pulls the thread A to therleft, as viewed in Figure r6, and threads it'througn a guide |12 mountedon the motor-drum assembly and through guide |69 above the twister spindle. The thread is then passed under `traveler |1|. Once this isdone,the thread is broken between twister traveler |-1| land the drum,'the free end being thrown :into therapidly rotating twister-bobbin lmounted on spindle |3 shown in Figure 8. The relatively small amount of thread collected on the bobbin of drum |62fm'ay -be removed therefrom and discarded as waste. In order that themotor-drum unit |62|66 can be'rnoved from spindle to spindle as the respective twisters associated with each unit `f|2 are threaded up, the wheel-rail 'assembly is provided. As a consequencawhenone twisterfspindle has been served, the motorcar is moved "to the next adjacent one. At-each unit, however, the motor is locked .in operative position. This is done by means of a lever |11-4 pivoted at |15 to the motor housing. Lever |14 is provided with an operating yhandle |-16Yand a'pin |11, adapted for cooperation with'holes |18 provided at spaced points along lowertrack |68. Whenpin 11 is received'in a hole 418, the 'motor 'and 'drum unit is restrained against movement along the'tracks. When it is to be'moved, however, the handle '|16 is pushed in toward the twister Yspindle thereby extracting pin |11 from hole |18 and Vallowing the device to be manually moved along the track to the next stage.

In order that drum-motor assembly |62 and |63 need not be spotted at v4the various stations, pivot l|15il1cludes a coil 'spring which normally urges pin |11 against rail |68. In this way, the operator -may push handle |16 in toward the machine toextract pin |11, then release handle |16 and push the car along --the track.' When thenext station is reached, pin |11 will be urged automatically into the next hole |18.

In Figures 3 and 8, a wire guide |19 can be seen extending from a portion of the motor housing. This guide ris to insure that the thread is wound on drum |62 and cannot be accidentally wedged in between the drum and the motor assembly tobe engaged by moving parts.

Attention is directed to the fact that the various spindles I3 are not located 'directly under the corresponding thread-storage, thread-advancing unit I2, see Figure 3. lI'l'ie reason for locating the twister spindles between adjacent units is a dual one. In the first place, more space is allowed for guides |69, and, secondly, and of even greater importance, a relatively long path is provided between upper roller |26 and the twister spindle. Since the last stage of aftertreatment normally consists of drying the thread, by the application of heat, thereto, and since, according to this apparatus drying is to be effected on rollers |26, the relatively long path between the said rollers Vand the associated spindles I3 allows time Vfor the thread to cool before twisting.

In Figures 9, l0, and 11, the internal structure of collecting drum |62 Aand the driving connection between said drum and motor |63 is illustrated. It can be seen that drum |62 is in the form of a hollow cylinder supported from shaft extending from the housing of motor V| 63 and connected to the rotor of said motor by suitable reduction gearing, not shown. Flangedfspiders 18| 'and |82 interiorly support drum |62, said spiders being spaced from shaft |88 by ball bearing assemblies |83 and |84. It is contemplated that drum |62 be made of hard rubber and be provided with a plurality of spring latches |85 for the purpose of holding in position a thread collecting bobbin of conventional form, not shown. This is a matter of convenience, since waste yarn wound on the collecting bobbin can be removed from drum |62 by sliding the bobbin axially off the unsupported end of the drum without interference with the driving connections for the latter.

It can be seen that flanged spiders I8| and |82 -do not establish a driving connection between shaft |89 and drum |62. On the contrary, these bearings merely serve to support the drum from the shaft in such a way that the two are freely relatively rotatable. At the free end of shaft |88 a small cylindrical collar |86 is keyed in position by a screw key |8'|. Screw key |81 not only functions to key collar |86 for rotation with shaft |88, but likewise maintains said collar and the shaft against relative axial displacement. Above and below collar |86 arcuate brake shoes |88 and |89 are loca-ted. These shoes are disposed on the ends of metallic arms |98 and I9|, respectively, the other ends of said arms being pivotally connected to spider |82. From this it can be seen that so long as brake shoes |88 and |89 are urged into engagement with :collar |86 a driving connection is established from shaft |88 through the brake shoes and arms |98 and I9! to spider |82 and from thence to cylindrical drum |62.

It has been previously stated that the clutch required in this installation be extremely sensitive in operation. For this reason, means are provided for varying the load on brake shoes |88 and |89. Midway of the lengths of arms |98 and |9|, identical coil springs |92 and |93 are attached, these springs being connected to the free ends of arms |94 and |95, respectively, the other ends of said arms being anchored by pins to spider |82, the anchorage being of a nature to permit pivotal movement about the pin. It is now evident that if arm |95 be rocked in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure l', and arm |94 be similarly moved, springs |93 and |92 will be extended to thereby increase the pressure on shoes |89 and |88 thereby increasing the frictional contact between said shoes and collar |86 to increase the power resistance differential necessary to cause slippage. The loading and unloading of springs |92 and |93 is accomplished by the employment of a cam |96 having faces of identical curvature disposed 180 apart. The 'configuration of cam |96 may be readily Viewed in Figure 10. Bearing against the surfaces of cam |96 are followers |91 and |98 connected to arms |94 and |95 respectively. Thus, by rotation of cam |96 in a counterclockwise direction, as it is viewed in Figure 10, the distance of followers |9`| and |98 from the center of shaft |88 may be increased. yDue to the fact that the two cam surfaces of cam |96 are identical in configuration, such movement will bring about an identical increase in loading of both of springs |92 and |93 to thereby increase the clutching effect between shoes |88 and |89 and collar |86. The movement and maintenance of cam |96 in vposition is effected by apparatus shown in Figures 9 and ll. Cam |96 is connected for rotation with hub |99 provided with a square end 288. Square end 288 is received in a bushing 28| pressed within knuried cap 282. Thus, when cap 282 is turned, the torque is transmitted to cam |96 directly through its hub |99. For maintaining the adjustment, a lock is effected between a flanged spider 283 and cap 282. Flanged spider 283 is marginally connected to drum |62 by three circumferentially spaced screws 284 while its hub portion is mounted for free rotation on the exterior of hub |99 of cam |96. AS can be seen in Figure 11, the hub of spider 283 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced sockets 295, each of a size to accommodate a pin 286. Pin 286 is permanently mounted in cap 282 and is adapted to extend into any selected one of the sockets 286. So that a connection may be maintained between cap 282 and spider 283 except during periods of adjustment, the cap is normally biased to the left, as viewed in Figure 8, by a spring 28? mounted Within a recess in hub |99. This spring normally urges a pin 298 to the left, as viewed in Figure 9, the shank of said pin being threaded into cap 282.

By the arrangement just described, itis possible to quickly and conveniently vary the loading of springs |92 and |93 to any desired extent within the limits defined by the configuration of cam |96. To do this, the operator grasps cap 282 and pulls it axially away from motor housing |63. This die-engages pin 286 from one of the sockets 285 in spider 203. Thereafter, the cap is turned either to the right or left, depending upon whether the loading of the springs |92 and |93 is Ito be increased or decreased. Since the springs are shown at the minimum loaded position in Figure 10, itis evident that the cam in that position may be turned only counterclockwise, as viewed in Fgure 10. When the desired adjustment is reached, it is only necessary to release cap 282 in any position such that the pin 286 is in registrywith one of the sockets to allow spring 281 to draw the cap to locked position.

The effect of the structure just described during the threading up of a ring twister from a unit of a continuous spinning machine is that the peripheral speed of drum |62 may be set to a predetermined value in excess of the delivery `i speed of thread-storage, thread-advancing unit I2. This excess in speed will be effective, however, only so long as there is no resistance to rotation of drum |62. When thread is wound around the bobbin, which is fitted over drum 62, the tendency of the drum to take 4up faster than the thread-storage, thread-advancing units delivers tends to load drum |62 so that resistance to turning movement will cause slippage of the clutch construction just described, thereby preventing breakage cf -thread while at the same .time maintaining suflicient tension so that thread will be taut between the free end of the threadstorage, thread-advancing device and drum |62 at all times. Similarly, as the build of ythread on the bobbin surrounding drum |62 increases, and so tends to increase the takeup speed of the temporary collecting device, the clutch mechanism will slip to prevent thread breakage while still 7 functioning to maintain the thread tau-t as shown in Figure 8 while the operator prepares to thread up twister spindle I3. The clutch mechanism just described may be used in temporary collecting ole-- vices and 8| to avoid excessive tension of the thread during transfers from .the units to the corresponding units I2 in threading up.

In Figures 12 and 13, there is shown a modified type Of continuous spinning machine constructed according to this invention. The liquid treatment steps effected on this machine may be similar to l those of the Figure 1 apparatus or maybevaried in a manner to be hereinafter described.

As can be seen upon reference to Figure 12,

lthe modiiied type of spinning machine is assem- -bled in conjunction with a two-bath system in which bath troughs 300 and 30|, their supporting framework 332, and spinning pump assembly 303 are adapted from a conventional two-bath spinning layout. Bath troughs 300 and 33| extend continuously for the entire length of the machine, pump units 333 being provided at spaced points along the length of trough 300, each to serve a spinneret 304.

In the modied type of apparatus now under discussion, the thread follows much the same course as in the machine of Figure 1. The thread leaving a spinneret 304 in ltrough 300 is passed over a long path guiding device 305 and godet 300. rFrom godet 305 it may be led into the bath of trough and from thence to a thread-storage, thread-advancing device indicated generally at 301 or it may be led directly to said device. After device 301 is threaded up, by winding a thread band adjacent the supported end thereof as described in connection with device of Figure 1, the thread is led to a temporary collecting device 308 which is bodily moved to ia position adjacent another thread-storage, thread-advancing ydevice designated generally at 303. On this device further treatments are consummated. From there the thread is led to a collecting device indicated generally at 3|0.

After the thread leaves godet 306, it may be ledinto a second bath located in trough 30|, around an immersed freely rotatable roller 33| `and then to threari-storage, thread-advancing unit 301 over guide roller 332. It will be understood that the threading arrangement shown in Figure 12 is merely exemplary showing the mechanical possibilities of the illustrated apparatus.- It is evident lthat long path guiding device 305 may be used either with or without subsequent passage of the thread through bath 30|. In the latter case, of course, the thread is led directly from godet 306 to thread-storage, thread-advancing device 301. Similarly, device 305 maybe omitted and the thread led directly to godet 306 and from thence either through the bath of trough 30| or directly to thread-storage, threadadvancing device 301 dependent upon the particular chemical treatment'undertaken. It will be understood that godet 336 must be driven in timed relation with the spinning pump and hence it is connected with shaft 321 by means of suitable drive mechanism.

Thread-storage, thread-advancing device 331 is similar in structure and operation to the corresponding unit i of the continuous spinning machine of Figures l and 2. It is threaded up in the same manner and it will cause axial -feed of spaced connected coils of thread wound therearound. Unit 331 consists of two rollers 333 and 334 mounted on axially extending shafts 335 and 33B lying in the same vertical plane which are supported at a common end. Each shaft is provided with sprocket 331 over which is trained an endless chain 333 so that both rollers will be driven at the same speed. The power source for ldriving rollers 333 and 334 through their respective shafts is a shaft 330 caused to rotate by any conventional means not shown. Shaft 340 is connected by a sprocket and chain drive to a shaft 33| which extends for the full length of the inachine. At spaced points along the length of shaft 34|, gears .342 are located, one being provided for 16 cooperation with a corresponding 4gear 343 mounted for rotation with shaft 335. Thus, shaft 33S is caused to rotate and through chain v333 drives shaft 335 at an identical speed. Hence the peripheral speeds of rollers 333 and 334 will be identical.

It will be recalled that lower roller 22 'of unit is mounted with its axis extending truly horizontally while the axis of upper roller 2| extends generally horizontally but slopes in the direction of the unsupported end of the unit. This arrangement also prevails in 'conjunction with thread-storage, thread-advancing unit '301. The shaft 336 for lower roller'334 is mounted in antifriction bearings 343 supported in fixed position from a plate 335 'bolted to frame 302. On the other hand, shaft 335 is mounted for movement in a vertical Plane so that the angle of convergence of the axes of rollers 333 and 334 may be varied to produce varying coils spacings of thread wound around the two rollers.

Once the .adjustment'of the angle of shaft 335 has been effected in a -manner to cause coil spacing in conformity with the time factor of the treatment eiected on thread-storage, thread-advancing unit 331, that unit is threaded up in the manner previously described in conjunction with unit see Figure l. The thread is passed from roller 33| in bath trough 30| to roller 332 adjacent the supported end of unit 301. From this roller it goes onto the thread-storage, thread-advancing unit and it leaves that unit adjacent a roller 335e. The thread is led around roller 363 and from thence to a roller 333 (Fig. 12) disposed adjacent the supported end of unit 303. As is the case of the apparatus illustrated in Figure l, the apparatus of Figure l2 `comprises two units 301 and 309 which are disposed on opposite sides of the machine. Hence, it is difficult to pass the thread from roller 365er to roller 333 by solely manual means. As a consequence, a rocker arm 301 (Fig. 13) is provided for the purpose of moving a temporary collecting device 368 from a point adjacent the discharge end of unit k331 to a point adjacent the takeup end of unit 309. Arm 301 is mounted for pivotal movement about shaft 34|, anti-friction bearings 339 serving to connect the two. Within the housing defining arm 331 a pulley 310 (Fig. 13) is located, connected by a V-belt 31| with another pulley 312. This pulley is keyed to a shaft 313 which likewise carries a temporary collecting device 333. Thus, the rotation of shaft 33| is carried over to temporary collecting device 368. In view of the fact that pulley 310 is somewhat larger than pulley 312, the peripheral speed of collecting device 338 is somewhat increased. The two connecting pulleys are so adjusted that the takeup speed of device 368 is just barely in excess of the delivery speed of rollers 333 and 33d so that the thread will not slack during a threading up operation. Upon reference to Figure v13, it will be seen that a pair of stops 314 depend from the lower edge of arm 331. These members cooperate with a stop 315 attached in any convenient manner to a portion of the machine frame so that arm 331 will, by gravity, always assume the same extreme positions, regardless of whether collecting device 330 is adjacent unit 301 or unit 309.

It can now be seen how temporary collecting device 368 is operated. To move that device from its position adjacent unit 301 to the broken line position shown in Figure 12 adjacent the supported end of unit 339, a crank 316 (Figs. 12 and 13) is operated, this crank causing rotation Aof a 17 sprocket 311, which, through a chain 318, operates a sprocket 319 keyed to the housing bearings of arm 361. It can be seen that rotation of crank 316 will cause the desired movement to take place, the rocking of arm 361 being entirely independent of pulleys 210, which, of course, is keyed to shaft 341. Once the temporary collecting device 368 has been moved to the broken 1ine position of Figure 12, the thread is broken adjacent that device and is led over roller 366 after which time the coils are wound around the rollers of unit 309 in the manner previously described in conjunction with thread-storage, thread-advancing unit 1 1. The thread shown leaving unit 309 (Fig, 12) is passed over roller 319a and from thence is led to collecting device 310 of any conventional type, the illustration of Figure 12 being diagrammatic and intended to include a thread supporting body driven at its periphery and used in conjunction with any conventional traverse mechanism; for example, of the type employed in coning machines. v

The unit 309-is made up of two rollers 380 and 381, the axes of which lie in the same vertical plane and are convergent in the direction of the unsupported end of the rollers. As before, the axis of roller 381 is truly horizontal, while the axis of roller 380 slopes downwardly from right to left as it is viewed in Figure 12. Rollers 389 and 381 are carried on shafts 382 and 383, respectively, supported in bearings 384 and 385 suitably attached in any convenient way to the lefthand main frame generally designated at 386. Bearings 385 are xed, and shaft 383 carries a gear 381 which meshes with a gear 388 carried on a main drive shaft 389. Shaft 389 is similar in structure and function to shaft 341, a plurality of gears 388 being provided at spaced points along its length, one for coaction with each gear 381. In this regard, it will be understood that a gear 381 is associated with each unit 309. In a manner similar to the arrangement shown in conjunction with unit 301, roller 380, through its shaft 382, is driven fro-m shaft 383. The drive is a chain and sprocket one indicated generally at 390.

Again in the interest of controlling the space between adjacent coils on the thread-storage, thread-advancing unit, the upper shaft 382 of unit 309 is rendered angularly adjustable. The adjustment is effected by pivotally attaching a plate 384er, which supports bearings 384, at a point 391. Pvoted plate 384cv. is provided, at a point remote from pivot point 391, with an extending portion 392 onto which a threaded rod 393 is pivotally attached through a bifurcated member. Threaded rod 393 passes through a bifurcated bracket 394 fiXedly attached to main frame 386. Within the arms of bracket 394 a hand nut 395 is located. It can be seen that by turning nut 395, the length of threaded rod 393 between that nut and the point of pivotal attachment to projecting portion 392 is varied and that the effect of this variance will be to tilt the plate carrying bearings 384 in which shaft 382 is lodged.

A small sprocket located rearwardly of gear 388 drives a chain 396, which in turn drives a sprocket 391 carried on a stub shaft. The stub shaft also carries a pulley 398 which is connected by a b-elt 399 to a pulley mounted on a stub shaft with roller 366. Thus, roller 366 is driven through connections so adjusted that it has a takeup speed just a little in excess of the delivery speed from unit 301. This assists in threading up when the 18 closed coil is wound near the unsupported end of unit 309.

Because of the fact that a two-roller threadstorage, thread-advancing device supported at one end only may be threaded up with great convenience, it is contemplated that all forms of the present invention be so`arranged.

In connection with Figure 12, a trough 400 is illustrated, which trough may be moved into and out of collecting position beneath roller 381, the purpose being to facilitate threading up of that roller. A modified fonm of construction adapted to the same purpose is illustrated in Figures 14 to 16, inclusive. For convenience of illustration, only a single roller is shown and this is of the type used on the right-hand side of the machines of Figures 1 and 12. It is to be understood that this construction may be incorporated. in either of these machines. Only the lower roller is shown, it being evident that the troughsV associated with the upper roller cannot interfere with threading up since a closed coil need not be wound underneath the upper roller. The single roller illustrated in Figures 14 and 15 is designated by the numeral 526 and is supported and driven by any of the previously described means through a shaft 521. Through supply pipes, not shown in Figures 14 and 15, liquids are sprayed upon roller 526 and are recovered in a trough 531 which may be drained by pipes 533. In threading up, troughs 531 will interfere with the passage of coils around the bottom of roller 526. Thus, trough 531 is provided with a U-bar 535, the transverse portion of which is aixed to the underside thereof at a point adjacent the supported end of roller 526. The shanks of U-bar 535 are provided with registering apertures and a bolt 536 is passed through them and through a bored portion of a frame supported block 531. In this way, trough 531 is pivotally attached to a portion of the main frame of the spinning machine. The under surface of trough 531 has depending therefrom a bifurcated member 538 at a point remote from the pointl of pivotal attachment of the trough to the main frame of the machine. The

arms of bifurcated member 538 are provided with registering apertures which receive a bolt 539 on which a bell crank 540 is pivoted between the two arms. Bell crank 540 is provided with an operating handle 541 (Fig. 15) at the end of one arm and is pivotally connected between two arms 542 by a pin 543 near the end of the other arm. Arms 542 are pivotally connected between the arms of U-member 544 which is affixed to a portion of the main frame. The extreme end of the arm of bell crank 540 which is pivotally attached at 543 to members 542 has extending thereacross a stop plate 545, see Figure 16, of a width suicient to contact the upper surface of both of the members 542. 'Ihe effect of this is that the weight of trough 531 tends to rock bell crank 540 in a counterclockwise direction as it is viewed in Figure 14. Thus, plate 545 is pressed tightly against bars 542. In this connection it is important to note that the left arm of bell crank 540 and bars 542 are not in alignment and that pivot point 543 is below a dead-centerposition. When the trough is to be lowered, bell crank 540 is rocked about pivot 539 in a clockwise direction making pivot point 543 into an elbow joint so that the front end of the trough may be lowered.

Modification of the process and the apparatus will readily be foreseen by those skilled in the art, and I desire to include all modifications 419 and variations coming within -thevscope of the appended claims. s

This is a division of my application Serial No, 450,934, filed July 14, 1942, entitled "Process and apparatus for the manufacture of synthetic yarn.

I claim:

l. In a continuous spinning machine including at least two thread-storage, thread-advancing devices and a twister device` al1 mutually offset and spaced from each other, temporary collecting means interposed between at least two of said devices and bodily movable into thread receiving position with respect to at least one of them, a power source associated with the temporary collecting means, a yielding driving connection between said power source and said temporary collecting means, and means associated with said yielding driving connection for adjusting the degree of yield thereof to a predetermined value to maintain a constant thread tension during bodily movement of the temporary collecting means.

2. A continuous spinning machine comprising means for forming a thread, a plurality of thread treating stations located at a distance from each other but constituting a unitary machine, each station including a plurality of thread treating devices over which thread `passes while being treated, rail means disposed between said stations, thread transfer apparatus adapted to be moved on said rail means between said stations and adapted for passing treated thread issuing from one of said stations to within Stringing-up prom'mity of another of said stations located at a distance therefrom, rotary means carried 'by said transfer apparatus for temporarily collecting said thread while said apparatus is traveling from one station to another, said rotary means being ar- Ameans for forming a thread, a plurality of thread treating stations located at a distance from each other but constituting a unitary machine, each station including a plurality of thread treating devices over which thread passes while being treated, rail means disposed between said stations, transfer apparatus adapted to be moved on said rail means between said stations and adapted for passing treated thread issuing'from one of said stations to within Stringing-up proximity of another of said stations located at a distance therefrom, rotary means carried by said transfer apparatus for temporarily collecting said thread while said apparatus is traveling from one station to another, said rotary means being arranged to rotate at a thread take-up speed which is'somew'nat greater than the speed of the thread issuing from the treating devices of the station from which the thread is being collected so as to keep said thread under tension while being collected and transferred to within Stringing-up proximity of the station located at a distance therefrom and means for retaining the rotary thread-collecting device in alignment with a station while the thread is being initially collected thereon-at said station and in alignment with another station after said rotary collecting device has been brought to Within Stringing-up proximity of said other station.

HERBERT O. NAUMANN. 

